Sagrada Familia History

The Sagrada Familia , Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece, is one of Barcelona’s most popular tourist attractions. Gaudi referred to as God’s architect due to his modernist style used in Sagrada Familia.

Sagrada Familia becomes Barcelona’s most important landmark which is still incomplete. Sagrada Familia construction will continue for at least another decade.

New Church

An organization of devouts suggested the construction of a new church. For which they purchased a land in the new Eixample district in 1877. The aim of the organization was to end the holy war in Barcelona.

Moreover, this war began due to industrialization and the increasing population. In 1882, architect “Francisco De Villar” designed the church & led its construction.

Antoni Gaudi’s Design

Antoni Gaudi, 31, took over as the lead architect, a year later. He committed his life to the construction of the church after taking over the project.

Sagrada Familia inside design

Gaudi changed the design of the church as a trademark of his modernist style, based on nature’s forms.

When he died in 1926, only one front ( The Native Face ), one tower, the apse and the crypt of Swas finished. Gaudi left only a few designs & models as he was improvising the design. Most of which are destroyed in 1936 during the civil war.

Eighteen Tower

Architects still have a clear idea of what Gaudi envisioned Sagrada Familia to be like. The final version of his design described a church 95m/312 ft long and 60m/197 ft wide. Sagrada Familia will have a total of eighteen towers, for approximately 17,000 people.

Four towers on each face of the church, symbolize the twelve apostles of height 90 to 120 meters (394ft). The other four towers represent the four evangelists.

Tower of Sagrada Familia

They will surround the largest,170 m/558 ft tall towers, dedicated to Jesus Christ. The virgin marry tower will be on the apse.

Construction

After Gaudi’s death in 1926, construction of Sagrada Familia slowed down, due to civil war.

In mid-1950, the speed of the constructions of Sagrada Familia started to pick up again and now two faces and eight towers are complete. The main nave is roofed in 2000.

Construction of Sagrada Familia is expected to last for another century. But modern technology has enabled the architects to speed up the construction.

Sagrada Familia now estimated the year of completion in 2026. The hundredth anniversary of Gaudi death.

Visiting the Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia still needs a lot of work. But it’s worth to visit this magnificent basilica designed by Antoni Gaudi. You can Visit the crypt where Gaudi is buried. The transept and the central nave designed like natural trees and amazing vaulting. Sagrada Familia also has a museum that recounts the history of the church to tells about its exceptional architect.

You can also visit the towers. You will be able to go to the top of the tower using a lift. From the top of the tower, you will have an amazing spectacle of Barcelona. People with claustrophobia and fear of height advised against the climb.